Dumb luck. Waiting for a Sunday morning train at 6 a.m. out of New York. Train delayed. Found myself with an hour or so to kill. Went out for stroll with camera and entered the Chrysler Building. Asked sleepy guard if he minded if I took some photos of the elevator and lobby.

Unobserved, took the elevator to the top floor which opened into the Cloud Club, a deluxe executive dining room with great WPA era murals of auto workers and all this bling. No one around. Found the fire stairs. Climbed up another 4-5 stories 'till I could go no further.

Opened (Yes, it did!) the highest window I could find at the peak of the spire. Looked down and shot this. Hopped the elevator (after swiping some Cloud Club matches and sugar packets), exited the building, caught my train and that was that. View full size.